The Playground Theatre and Guy Masterson presents...
CALL ME ELIZABETH:
An audience with Elizabeth Taylor
1st-5th September | 7.30PM
6th September | 6PM
Written & Performed by Kayla Boye
Directed by Michael Weber
Dramaturged & Presented by Guy Masterson
Direct from the Edinburgh Fringe, you are cordially invited to an audience with Dame Elizabeth Taylor!
Kayla Boye IS the Hollywood legend as she takes us behind the scenes to expose the realities of superstardom shrouded by glitz and glamour, uncompromisingly revealing her innermost feelings about love and life… The triumphs and tragedies of a scrutinised existence, from ‘Lassie' to ‘Cleopatra’...from Burton to Humanitarian…An extraordinary life…
Born to stardom, for a decade she was the darling of Hollywood, but her fairytale wedding to Nicky Hilton soured on their wedding night, she lost beloveds James Dean and Montgomery Clift to car crashes, she lost her 3rd husband - and the love of her life - Mike Todd, in a plane crash, she almost lost her own life to pneumonia, she lost her 5th and 6th husband - and passion of her life - Richard Burton, to alcoholism. She lost her best friend, Rock Hudson, to AIDS… and she very nearly lost herself... but she stopped on the brink. Defiant, she became the voice that demanded that AIDS be taken seriously, that it was more than just "a Gay Disease" and her influence led to activism, and her activism to acceptance and cure.
Directed by Mike Weber, dramaturged and presented by Guy Masterson, Olivier winner and twice Taylor's nephew by marriage to Richard Burton, this is as close as anyone will get to the truth of her remarkable journey from Child Star to Aids Activist.
★★★★★ 'Brilliant! A must-watch for any Elizabeth Taylor fan!' (EdFringeReview)
★★★★★ 'Captivating! A brilliantly polished production!' (Three Weeks)
★★★★★ 'A shattering, exquisite performance that should not be missed.' (Chicago Theatre)
BOOKING INFORMATION
BOOKING INFORMATION
Preview: Monday 1st | 7:30pm
Performances: Tues 2nd- Sat 5th | 7:30pm
Matinee: Sunday 6th | 6pm
Duration: 120 mins
Interval: 20 mins
Content Warnings: Some mild language
Recommended for 14 years +
Tickets (All unreserved)
General Admission - £25
Concession | Senior over 60 - £20
Access for All | Unemployed | Student - £20
Note: Please contact boxoffice@theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk for your complementary ticket for a carer/companion/friend
CREATIVES
KAYLA BOYE (WRITER/ACTOR/PRODUCER) is a Chicago-based artist and the creator of Call Me Elizabeth and Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story. Credits include productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Drury Lane Theatre, Fireside Theatre, Capital City Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Music Theater Works, BrightSide Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, The Huron Playhouse, The Youngstown Playhouse, and City Lit Theater (Winnie in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days). Her work has been awarded grants from Illinois Arts Council and the Arts Midwest Touring Fund. kaylaboye.com www.instagram.com/kaylaboye
MICHAEL WEBER (DIRECTOR) is an award-winning director, producer, actor, and educator. He recently served as the Resident Director of the Chicago company of Titanique produced by Porchlight Music Theatre, where he serves as Artistic Director. He previously served as Artistic Director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center. Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at Mercury Theater Chicago. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has been nominated for nine awards, and he wrote and directed 14 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. www.michaelweberonline.com
Guy Masterson
Dramaturg
LAMDA & UCLA trained, and actor, director, writer and producer of 40+ years. A 27 year veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe, he has presented over 150 plays and is associated with many of its biggest hits. He has performed 11 solo plays including Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm, Shylock and A Christmas Carol, and has given over 5000 solo performances globally since 1992.
He won The Stage Best Actor Award in 2001 for Fern Hill & Other Dylan Thomas and has received a further 4 nominations for his solo work. He has also directed 27 solos including the 2010 Olivier winning Morecambe. Most recently, he directed the Olivier nominated West End hit, The Shark Is Broken which has opened on Broadway on August 10. He is married to Brigitta and father to Indigo and Tallulah.